rjfitch

[rjfitch]

Raymond J. “RJ” Fitch joined WuXi AppTec as vice president of manufacturing in 2016. His role quickly  expanded to include oversight of three of the company’s Philadelphia-based facilities becoming the Vice President of Operations & General Manager. Outside of his work as Philadelphia site head, RJ Fitch enjoys staying active through running.

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The Basics of Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is considered a philosophy and a management technique that favors achieving authority instead of power. It is simply the philosophy of the leader serving the employees rather than the other way around. It is a system aimed at creating a decentralized power structure in any organization and building stronger connections between bosses and employees. A servant leadership style is built on the philosophy that if employees are happy and content with their jobs, they will contribute more to the company's growth. A person who employs this leadership style is called a servant-leader. The servant-leader develops, empowers, cultivates leadership qualities, and cares about the wellbeing of those in his immediate surroundings. In his 1970 essay "The Servant as Leader," Robert K Greenleaf, the current servant leadership movement's founder, coined the term "servant leadership." He believed that a servant leader's primary focus should be the needs of his employees and organization before his own, making leadership his secondary priority. This is unlike the leader-first style, in which the leader is often driven by material desires or power and emphasizes control. Greenleaf also established the principles of servant leadership. These include; Empathy, helping members of your team heal from trauma caused by previous toxic workspaces; Listening attentively and without comment to members of your team; Humility, using persuasion and influence rather than power to convince team members to see things your way; and Commitment to the personal growth of others There are certain characteristics of a servant leader, such as the ability to provide employees with adequate support and clarity, even in complex situations. Another characteristic is the ability to collaborate effectively with team members and learn from past mistakes and successes while using the lessons learned to improve future projects. Though servant leaders put their employees first, they utilize top-down direction and bottom-up empowerment techniques to lead. Top-down direction is how the servant leader sets the company's strategic visions and communicates this to his team. By providing the frameworks, expectations, and limitations in which their teams will excel, unlike detailing specific directions on their responsibilities. Bottom-up empowerment is the servant leader's ability to inspire and build up members of their teams in terms of Self-confidence, Decision-making ability, Creative thinking, and collaboration skills while providing the required resources, budget, and skills to enable them to succeed. It also involves leaders holding employees and themselves accountable for their words and actions. This leadership style offers benefits such as improved productivity. When employees feel valued and motivated, they are more likely to express loyalty to the leader's vision. Also, there is improved trust between leaders and employees. Finally, innovation improves due to inclusivity because employees are free to express their opinions and develop professional skills. Servant leadership also creates an effective support system for employees allowing them to adapt and respond to varying working conditions efficiently. While also leading to a more productive workplace when leader empowers and develop their team. Individuals can practice servant leadership at any level in a company. Simply supporting colleagues by providing resources and addressing their needs can significantly impact their wellbeing and create positive results. This leadership style is especially suited for less structured work environments.

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Common Organizational Management Styles

Organizational management refers to the overall strategy organizations use to structure and manage their human and other resources to work together for achieving a common predefined goal. Each entity uses organizational management differently, contingent upon its needs. But the goal typically is the same: to realize or increase profits. Corporations may opt for one organizational management style aligned with their owner’s or chief executive officer’s vision or a combination of several depending on what is most effective for a given department or manager. Some of the most common organizational management styles include autocratic, laissez-faire, democratic, paternalistic, and management by walking around. The autocratic organizational management style has one person leading the company and having full authority and decision-making power. Lower-level managers and employees provide no input but follow clear policies established by autocratic leaders. Organizations that favor accuracy and control over creativity can most benefit from this management style. For example, companies whose employees execute highly-controlled tasks or manufacture exact products may need a self-disciplined and determined leader to supervise their work and make sure they produce functioning output. In addition, autocratic leaders may also aid organizations with a large staff and minimum training. These employees may require constant oversight to perform their tasks correctly. At the other end of the spectrum is the laissez-faire organizational management style, which gives employees the independence to supervise projects, be creative, and tackle problems without frequently consulting their managers. Laissez-faire leaders have minimum participation in the operations and the decision-making process. Their leadership is more on paper and appearance, and their role is more that of a guiding figure providing employees with the required resources to fulfill their tasks. This management style is most effective with organizations whose employees are highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals. They do not need constant supervision and often are more familiar with the company’s production than their managers. The latter are open-minded and trust their subordinates. Open and effective communication underlies the democratic or participative organizational management style too. Although companies that use it have a clear hierarchy, they encourage their employees regardless of the level to provide feedback. The resulting work environment promotes collective decision-making, collaboration, and teamwork. Democratic leaders delegate tasks and decide on important issues, but they listen to and collect ideas from all employees before forming their final decision. This management style is most suitable for companies or departments that abound with experienced and innovative employees. They flourish when having their leaders’ support and engagement and participating in the decision-making process. The democratic manager’s primary task is to identify how to best use each employee’s talents and ideas. The paternalistic organizational management style also cherishes all employees’ feedback. Companies that apply it have one individual taking the role of a leader and treating team members as a family or partners. Often, the result is a higher staff’s loyalty, motivation, and commitment to the company’s success. Paternalistic leaders implement policies that are beneficial both for the organization and its employees. Furthermore, they often provide the latter with skills development training and career advancement opportunities. This management style is most beneficial for organizations that emphasize more their workforce needs than profits or stakeholder interests. Finally, with the management by walking around style, leaders consider themselves a vital part of the team. They are efficient listeners and frequently interact with their employees, seeking feedback, ideas, and concerns. The walking-around manager acts more like their team’s mentor than a supervisor. This organizational management style is widespread among project managers.

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The Effects of Gardening on Mental Health

The positive effects of outdoor activities, including relief from boredom and stress, arguably cannot be overstated. One such activity that has existed for as long as humans have cultivated food, gardening serves as a way to relax, focus, and connect while growing plants and otherwise connecting with nature. In doing so, it benefits mental health. The effects of connecting with nature can be discerned cognitively and emotionally. Nature has demonstrated its vital power to the human mind countless times. Research has shown that by attracting the human mind with little to no effort, nature facilitates improvement in attention, which has important therapeutic implications. For example, research has demonstrated that children with ADHD tend to focus more during walks in a park than in an urban setting. Living close to green spaces has also been demonstrated to engender numerous health benefits, including decreased mental fatigue and stress and augmented protection against illnesses and mental well-being. Many gardeners grow their own nutrition - like fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Mental Health America, individuals with diets rich in such foods are up to 35 percent less likely to become depressed than those who eat less of these foods. Furthermore, the very act of gardening promises to elevate mood; by focusing on gardening tasks, peace and contentment tend to supplant negative thoughts and make the individual feel better as they do so. Because growing a plant can be a rather impressive feat, someone who does so could experience a sense of pride. So, by increasing self-positivity and self-value, gardening plays a potentially significant role in boosting self-esteem. Gardening also increases physical activity, and while this benefit could also be realized at a gym, gardening achieves it under the sun, where the production of vitamin D reduces cortisol. When cortisol is decreased, and the sun causes the release of endorphins, people tend to feel better in general. Nevertheless, individuals are advised to protect themselves from excessive sun with sunblock and a hat while gardening. When an individual has a healthy sleep pattern, it means they are getting the appropriate amount of sleep, which can help regulate one’s emotions. Well-regulated emotions and healthy sleep patterns are crucial for mental wellbeing. Gardening is an activity that offers a lot of sleep-related benefits. Basking in the sun also positively affects the human body’s sleep-wake cycle. Further, the physical activities of gardening can also reduce stress, which is known to deter good sleep. Gardening can also provide different workout levels for different individuals. For instance, those wanting more activity might consider double-digging a new bed. Others wanting less activity and/or having less space can limit themselves to the cultivation of potted plants. And for those who live in highrises, watering and weeding might necessitate walking flights of stairs, which could provide a fair amount of exercise. Moreover, these activities might cause one to linger outside, which can result in interaction with others and improve mental health by fostering community. In summary, gardening can remedy stress and have a substantial positive impact on mental and physical health. Rather than visit a gym when in need of a workout, consider picking up a shovel. Gardens also provide readily available fresh food for harvesting whose yields, when abundant, can be shared with neighbors.

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Running Outside versus on a Treadmill

Many runners have a strong preference for running on a treadmill or outside. Some struggle to pace themselves properly without manual controls in front of them and prefer the precision of executing a programmed exercise indoors, while others prefer to run outside, finding running on treadmill boring. In fact, each modality has its advantages and disadvantages, and each has the potential to help you achieve your goals, whether you’re training for a marathon or simply getting in a cardio session. Here’s how running on a treadmill compares to running outside. One of the most significant differences between running on a treadmill and outside is the environment. Because treadmills are indoor exercise machines, they can provide refuge from inclement weather, but those who enjoy variations in landscape or terrain may complain of their monotony. Treadmills allow users to fine-tune details of their run, including elevation, pace, and intervals. This is ideal for those recovering from injuries who require a more controlled workout. Modern treadmill belts are also intended to minimize impact on your joints by absorbing much of the force of your footfalls. Running outside allows you to take in the scenery and learn about your surroundings. According to a National Center for Biotechnology Information report, this can have significant advantages for people who experience anxiety or despair. According to the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, regular outdoor runners may benefit from stronger bones as a result of running on pavement or hard ground. On the other hand, running outside can provide problems in terms of elevation, topography, and weather, which could lead to injury when dealing with uneven or slippery surfaces. In terms of expense, you may need to account for specific fees when using a treadmill, depending on your area. If you opt for a gym, keep in mind that annual membership fees average $507, according to RunRepeat, and can easily exceed $562. If you live more than a short walk or bike ride from your local gym, fuel or other transportation costs may also be a consideration. You should also consider whether you will use a gym membership on a regular basis. If you do not want to go to a gym, you could buy a treadmill, but that could cost you anywhere from $300 to $2,500. When comparing running on a treadmill to running outside, it’s evident that running outside is the less expensive alternative. Nonetheless, pricing and tastes may differ. You are the only one who can decide which option is best for you. To lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit, meaning you must burn more calories each day than you take in. Weight management is primarily concerned with energy balance, which means that we must consume fewer calories than we spend through our resting metabolism and physical activity in order to reduce weight. According to Harvard Health Publishing, running on a regular basis can help you burn more calories and produce a 500-calorie/day deficit. But, when it comes to losing weight, which is better: running on a treadmill or running outside? Experts have found little evidence to indicate that treadmill running and outdoor running differ in terms of weight loss. Regular aerobic activity, regardless of the choice you make, will burn calories and help you reach your goals, according to the National Library of Medicine. The number of calories expended is affected by the speed and type of jogging you do. Jogging, running, steady-state running, and high-intensity interval training can all be done on a treadmill or outside. Most treadmills, on the other hand, lack a descent, making it difficult to accurately imitate topography or cross-country running during marathon preparation.

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Why Are Servant Leaders Effective?

Many people adopt different management techniques when leading. Servant leadership is a type of leadership where the leader prioritizes the needs of the people being led. Servant leadership as a mode of management ensures that the members are content with the leader's terms of engagement and are dedicated to the task at hand. One of the major reasons servant leaders are influential and effective is because they empathize with their people. Empathy refers to the ability to bear another person's emotions or challenges as though they are their own. Therefore, servant leaders can understand their followers' needs and cater to them. When followers or employees recognize that they are understood and cared for, they are often motivated to perform their obligations. People tend to make certain decisions based on how well they are persuaded. Unlike an authoritarian leader who constantly issues commands, a servant leader carries and influences their followers in the decision-making process to see why a particular course of action is the best decision to make. Servant leaders always allow their followers to think for themselves, make independent decisions, and develop innovative ways to solve problems. Similarly, servant leader is not focused on leading their followers to achieve selfish aims. Instead, servant leaders often encourage their teams to prioritize growth and personal development. While bonuses and promotions might be necessary for motivating teams to be more productive and focused, leaders or employers must note that building a system and culture of trust helps the team thrive. According to Brene Brown, a professor at the University of Houston, servant leadership cannot be said to exist where shame and fear thrive. Seeing courage and boldness are the basis of servant leadership. Shame prevents followers from being vulnerable, and a lack of vulnerability stifles creativity, productivity, and innovation. A servant leader should acknowledge the individuality among employees and team members. James Ferrell, the managing partner and co-founder of the Arbinger Institute, noted that servant leaders are considered essential because they acknowledge and value people as individuals, not necessarily because of the material benefits they provide. In accepting the individuality of people, a servant leader seeks out what makes every member of the team efficient. They also try to figure out what motivates and challenges every member of the team. Aside from nurturing and focusing on the individuality of their employees or team members, servant leaders must acknowledge and nurture their identity. Raj Sisodia, a bestselling author and the co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement, noted that a servant leader is a whole person and not divided. The wholeness of the servant leader's individuality, in turn, motivates the followers and members of a team to be complete. Humility is equally a vital attribute of servant leaders that makes them effective. Humility implies that the leader is usually ready to participate in every lawful act it takes to get the job done, even when it is considered condescending. A servant leader will prioritize the organization's needs over their sense of self-importance. Because servant leaders always prioritize the needs of the people they serve, they have a high sense of self-discipline. Servant leaders often have a good judgment of what will constitute good and bad decisions. Therefore, they utilize the necessary self-discipline to strike a balance and avoid making chaotic decisions.